Beginner's setup

[promo (Anthony)]

Hi all, I have been a casual visitor on this site for a while, but recently i have been reading thru all of the beginners forums on this site plus google search and found that I want to start my first "serious" sky viewing purchase to be a refractor/GEM setup with astrophotography in mind for the future..... better learn to walk first than run.

My friend had an 8 inch Dob and a 8 inch newt on an NEQ6 pro mount.

I'm looking at an 80~100 mm ED APO with HEQ5 Pro.

Now the choices to my budget....

SW BD 100 ED (includes diagonal, spotting scopes and EP) (andrews- $1200 web price)
Long Perng ED APO 100 without the above accessories (andrews-$1299 web)
WO Megrez 90B without accessories (andrews-$1199)

could stretch my budget and get a

Bosma Omega 102 m triplet APO with accessories (Andrews-$1799) but there isn't any aus reviews about it.

Now adding the diagonal, eps and spotting scope to either the LP or WO will bring it the the Bosma price.

The Megrez is an order in item.

I understand for astrophotography you need a focal reducer, extension tube to get the focal range plus t ring/eos adaptor and probably a universal camera mount. i plan to use my 400d to get it to AP.

Really my main question is to either buy a name brands as WO or go cheaper and buy the SW. I currently have a pre 1990 4.5 inch Meade(Made in Japan) LOL reflector on a wooded tripod. The ep are ~1 inch and i don't think they will fit with any current optical equipment.

I know there is alot of info out there but I’m looking for good info from experienced and passionate members on this site.

And of course i don't want to make silly but expensive financial mistakes.


P.S have to check with Andrews on prices/availably in the morning as i finish my last night shift.

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

Well, I'll start the ball rolling...

I have two friends with Megrezs and they're worth the extra. I think you'll notice the difference in quality in the end if you go with the Megrez and not the cheaper SWs. I haven't seen a Long Perng in action so can't say.

[dannat (Daniel)]

the long perng factory make a lot of the WO stuff..the QC of the WO gear should account for the extra..i would go for the long perng if it were me..over the other two (SW focusers aren't the sturdiest)

i presume you want this for photography and visual, these scopes aren't commonly visual only items..you can get more aperture cheaper

[promo (Anthony)]

Thanks guys, ii did call Andrews communications on Saturday and they were a bit busy as one of the staff was late in. that was ok, i'll call them on monday to see what they have in stock but the Long Perng is the winner at the moment as it is slightly bigger aperture. I will also ask about the different focuser on the two models. Ie 2.5 inch power linear or standard crayfold style 2 inch? Is the Long Pernh focuser is simular in quality to WO 2 inch?

Thanks again.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

One thing that most shops don't tell you about is Field Flatteners! everything is well and good untill you slap a medium sized chip behind the helm (look up Coma).

If it where me ide be heading for a WO with a field flattener. Do also remember that you have to guide the thing if you want to get some good exposures, 5-10 min with a DSLR.

A HEq5 is a minimum... and when i say that i mean MINIMUM... if you can stretch it out to a NEQ6-w youll be alot happier. Its all about the mounts stability, and it wont be untill you realize that the mount isn't capable of the weight that you will notice it for me that came about 6 months ago... and i have had the setup for 14 months. after wondering why when a fly farted near my kit it went all over the show!

So My recommendations in summery

-WO 90 + a Orion ST80 and orion star shoot guider (OSSG) or you could replace the ST80 with a off axis guider they are about the same price but with the difference being weight and the reduced chance of flexure, but it increases the weight on the focuser, im not in a position to comment because i don't own one talk to rogerg from the forums, he does have those types of telescopes. depends on how savvy you are with electronics and gadgets i guess to what you think about.!

Just remember that if your looking to go towards astrophotography that generally your either one or the other, not saying that any scope cant do the other, but its just the same as always, if you have both, it cant be tuned for both. aka Gas/Fuel, both offer great proformance, but when coupled together one sufferes!

[Logieberra (Logan)]

I agree with Brendan - 100%

If you're going to go the 'cheap chinese mount route' do yourself a favour and get the EQ6 Pro (or NEQ6 Pro - same thing). I purchased one the other day, and I'm glad that I did (versus the HEQ5 which I was seriously considering).

It's nice to know that I can fit a bigger scope on the mount at any time down the track... The 6 will do this for you.

Talk to Greg at NVT in WA. His prices smashed the east coast dealers, and he offered a shipping discount to boot!

So yeah, I'd pay less on the scopes from the beginning, and spend more $$$ on a bigger / heavier mount! My 2 cents as a noob.

[MrB (Simon)]

If you decide to go with the M90, make sure it's the current 3rd generation model you are buying.
Don't know if there would be any 2nd gen left out there sold as new, but worth asking.
WO's Field Flattener 4 does not work with the older M90's (not enough in-focus).... my FF4 is collecting dust not photons.

[promo (Anthony)]

Thanks again guys, just tried a Neq6 last saturday night, a i think its too big for me atm, It nearly weights more that i do, LOL. We had issues with the moon.... and getting 3 star alingment working properly (first real use with the mount.) we both agreed that heq5 will be enought for the time being as i have to set it up in my backyard every thine and that the portability may be an issue.

On the scope front, still waiting for a package quote from andrews on the long Perng.

Thanks for the info about the focal reducer, have to keep in in mind as i will probablely use 400d atm. another problem is the dew that the telescope was fogging up on the may mate's reflector. Have to look into a dew heater setup..... massive learning curve.

[Logieberra (Logan)]

A package deal sounds good, you may save more in the long run...

And just to let you know that HEQ5 Pro mounts often come up in the classifides, ranging from $900 - $1100 depending on their condition, and if they come with factory warranty remaining etc.

Enjoy

[rogerg (Roger)]

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

-WO 90 + a Orion ST80 and orion star shoot guider (OSSG) or you could replace the ST80 with a off axis guider they are about the same price but with the difference being weight and the reduced chance of flexure, but it increases the weight on the focuser, im not in a position to comment because i don't own one talk to rogerg from the forums, he does have those types of telescopes. depends on how savvy you are with electronics and gadgets i guess to what you think about.!

Did I feel my ears burning???

M90 is a nice scope, $1199!! gez, why does it always seem like I pay more than everyone else Can't remember how much mine cost but it sure wasn't that "cheap".

If you want perfectly flat images you definitely need a flattener with the M90B. But you don't need that straight away. As a beginner who's just wanting some fun images you can live with the field for a while and upgrade with a flattener later, and crop images.

MrB's right about the matching of flattener's... if you get the $1199 M90B from Andrews keep in mind you will not get a distortion-free field with the William Optics Flatv3 (which is supposedly compatible with it), and the Flatv4 doesn't work like MrB said. I have a Borg DGL flattener on order now to hopefully once-and-for-all solve the problem, but that's about AU$530.

If I had my time again I would've got a second hand Takahashi Sky90 package, for about the same price as what I paid for my M90. But with your M90 quote at $1199 you're not going to get a Sky90 for that so the M90 is probably the best option.

Roger.

[promo (Anthony)]

Just had a call with Andres Comms, Looks like the Long Perng 100 ED Apo is sold out... ($1299), with the M90b as an order in item.

But they do have WO Megrez 102 ED for $1499 in stock. For some reason this scope doesn't show up on WO website? is this a new item or an out of production model? not a major issues if WO decided that the next size wil be 110mm. Been Available means they can ship it asap.

I'm waiting now for the package price for the above scope tomorrow (Thursday). Also in the package i have asked for a set of 1.25 inch EPs and a GSO 2" quarts diagonal... I'll leave the camera adaptors (t ring, tube extenders and reducers (MrB if your FF4 will fit the M102 will you be willing to sell it ? ) till later.) I really have no idea on ep yet and will probably fine out my most used size and get a better quality one later.

I presume that the skywatcher/bintel/celestron are rebadged GSO. So getting GSO ep are ok for Beginners?

Thanks again.

P.S For the Perth IIS members, are you apart of AGWA. If so i'll try to make it to one of your meetings in Como. (The Joys of Shift work)

[rogerg (Roger)]

Originally Posted by promo

But they do have WO Megrez 102 ED for $1499 in stock. For some reason this scope doesn't show up on WO website? is this a new item or an out of production model? not a major issues if WO decided that the next size wil be 110mm. Been Available means they can ship it asap.

Do some googling to check what it's CA (false colour) and field flatness are like. That's the main things to check I think.

I chose against a different megrez (perhaps the 110, can't remember) because it was reported to have some CA (false colour).

Originally Posted by promo

P.S For the Perth IIS members, are you apart of AGWA. If so i'll try to make it to one of your meetings in Como. (The Joys of Shift work)

a little mixed up there ... AGWA meets at Malaga I think, and use a Chittering dark sky site, ASWA (seperate club) meets at Como and uses a Tammin and a Bakers Hill dark sky site ... two clubs, take your pick or join both

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by rogerg

M90 is a nice scope, $1199!! gez, why does it always seem like I pay more than everyone else Can't remember how much mine cost but it sure wasn't that "cheap".

Hmmm, I'll keep my mouth shut then
(was even less than that, used but in perfect cond.)

Originally Posted by promo

(MrB if your FF4 will fit the M102 will you be willing to sell it ? )

I'm not sure what to do with it yet.
I have a lathe and milling machine so might modify it, or maybe will sell, just not sure yet.
You are more than welcome to trial it on whatever scope you get.
Send me a PM when you've got your gear sorted and are ready to give a flattener a go.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

The mount is the only thing that counts IMO, put your Meade on an EQ6 (minimum).

[promo (Anthony)]

Just called Andrews Comms and ordered an WO M102 and a Heq5 pro mount. Heq5 price drop to $1100. Thanks again for your help and Luke at Andrews comms was very helpful aswell.

[Davros (Lauren)]

Enjoy it, ive got the HEQ5 ED80 combo and i love it to bits.